On Chesil Beach
by Ian McEwan
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Book Reviews of On Chesil Beach
Book Review: Humor, suffering, beautiful writing, great characters.
Summary: 5 Stars
At 203 small pages, I devoured this book. It was a great entertaining read; full of beautifully written dark humor and suffering and absolutely real living breathing characters...a winning combo for me. The story of a 1962 English couple's torturous wedding night, both of them virgins, as seen from each perspective, with flashbacks to their families, childhoods, meeting and wedding. It's hard to imagine the times being so different such a short time ago, but it adds a wonderful uniqueness to the story. I loved how the author was able to present the young couple in their stark nakedness, flawed but absolutely irresistable, without laying blame; McEwan is quite capable of making the reader a fully participating character in his story; there is nothing passive about this read, so hang on!Book Review: Not his best, not his worst.
Summary: 4 Stars
While this novel is far and away better than Amsterdam, it doesn't compare with his best novels, like Atonement and Enduring Love. On Chesil Beach is a minor, well written novel, with the pacing and characterization you'd expect from McEwan. One of the things I liked about Chesil Beach was the fact that for the most part it was a very un-sentimental book, until the last five or so pages, which had enough sentimentality for the entire novel. While it may not leave you feeling blown away like Atonement, Enduring Love, or (at least for me) The Cement Garden, On Chesil Beach is a good read for a fan of McEwan. If your new to him this isn't the book I would pick up, but it's certainly worth your time. It's short, powerful, and to the point. It may fall short of greatness, but it's very good.Book Review: A Road Not Taken
Summary: 3 Stars
This book explores a relationship between newlyweds where communication problems lead to a sad result (I don't want to spoil it for you). The woman seems to be abnormally fearful of sex and in fact, revolted by the idea of it. There are hints that perhaps she was abused. The book details a painfully awkward wedding night and the fallout its unhappy outcome. The book is beautifully written, moving seamlessly between the present and past. The book shows how a moment in life can lead one down a path from which there is no turning back. A few pages near the end quickly recount what becomes of these young people and though their lives are not tragic, the reader does wonder what might have been. It's a good read though soon after I closed the book, it slipped from mind.Book Review: I'd like a refund please...
Summary: 1 Stars
A mediocre attempt by an otherwise great author.
I read this novel during a three hour layover in the Atlanta airport, and I can't help but feel McEwan didn't spend any more time than that writing it. I'm astonished I made it through the whole thing, and if my flight hadn't been delayed I probably would've given up on it and opted instead for the AirTran manual in the seat pocket--it probably would've been more riveting.
Not to mention, there was a HUGE contradiction in the narrative that made the plot absolutely moot and aggravated me so much I complained for a good 15 minutes to the person sitting next to me in the terminal. It just felt sloppy and also lacked any conclusion whatsoever for the female lead character.
Book Review: Realities of one marriage....
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a very sad and depressing novella. Ian McEwan tells the story of a young couple who marry and then are unable to consumate their marriage due to the young woman's utter terror at the possibility and the young man's inability to comprehend the situation. When they are dating they feel the need to marry in order to conform to their idea of a successful life, but the realities of what is needed for a marriage to flourish, understanding, patience, honesty, are the qualities that they do not possess. When they run into thier"brick wall" in their marital bed, they make no effort to cope with the issue but instead go their seperate ways, resigned to the failure as an acceptable alternative to breaking down the barriers they have built.